6.44 Fixed fuse. Checking how easy it will be to take a few Twitter feeds. Of course, I can add feeds subsequently. This may be a project needing a small social network [note for PC/AH].

Trial 2

Osborn’s speech [Tuesday]

12.35: Missed it by a few minutes. Appears to have been a speech which made the pain from change clear. Worth examining as another trial. ‘We are all in this together’ [Did he know the High School Musical song?].

To follow the trial

Don’t forget to refresh the page to keep up with the flow (fingers crossed) ..

Here we go

13.34

Discussion with my colleagues AH and MC suggested importance of balance in the forthcoming speech. Balance between confidence, and overconfidence. Another tension to be managed.

13.37

William Haigh warms up,
‘He sounds more Prime Ministerial’ [AC]

“It’s quite good going on the beach next to a fat person …[anon]. is this a suggestion WH is a dire warm-up to make DC appear even better?

‘..and fifth ….something about own values ..driving slave trade from the seas … this how we will defeat terrorists ‘. Ends. Warmish applause.

13.51 Oh, another warm-up.
Tim Kirkhope, leader of new Conservative group in Europe. Low key. Another warm-up reception.

BBC averts its gaze from other people’s advertising to sneak in some of its own…

14.02 “EXPECTED SOON Coverage of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, including David Cameron’s speech, from the BBC Parliament Channel.”

Soon is 14.10. Technical supporters of LWD go to find coffee. I resume full control of the Computer and incoming feeds.. There do not seem to be any incoming feeds (or drinks, come to think of it. Where are they?).

13.59

Just in time. Thanks. Especially for the Minstrels. One packet. Is that for collaboration or meanness.

14.10

Bored helpers start discussing childbirth experiences. One was in labour when Margaret Thatcher offered her resignation. Other had a more recent vicarious experience. I stick to watching screen.

14.14 This speech is overdue (if I retain the natal metaphor). Cold Play plays on.

14.16 Back in hall. Darkness descends. House music (so AH says).
Echoes of warehouse music(whatever that means).
‘Steady rhythmic beat of anticipation’ (MC).

Then introdues on video someone
called Bono… our culture correspondence says he is a charity big hitter

14.25 A look back at 4 years under DC. The ecstasy of delayed gratification. When is HE coming.

14.31 He slipped in. I thought it was part of the montage!

14.31 attack on Labour ..steep climb but view from summit worth it.
First priority Afghanistan. Need top politician of top rank (Liam Fox).

[So are are going through the ‘team’ on the platform’?] Mentioned General Dannett’s role. Asked for round of applause for our troops.

14.39

Mentions personal tragedy this year. Moves on to his deep values. and
the big argument: Labour ‘we need more government..why is economy …society broken’ because government got too big’.

Alternative ‘rebuilding responsibility’.
We will have to rebuild and take the Country will us’ [seems to be talking ‘inside’ first.

Our option: we must pay down the deficit. The longer we wait the more we waste. What is progressive about spending on debt not our schools.

Recounts leaked cuts to ministers’ pay/ public servants pay. Outlined where growth came from – business entrepreneurship and infectious self-belief.

14.56 Identified with rescuing the poorest from Labour’s tax penalties. Well applauded. The rescuer Ian Duncan Smith. If we win (again) IDS will help us mend the broken society.

15.00 Convincing righteous indignation about Labour’s failure to fix broken society. For me, authentic sounding. Stop treating adults like children and children like adults. This was a soundbite at last

15.06 This party is the party of the NHS. Targets will be removed, and replaced by patient accountability.

15.09 big government blamed for vivid examples of social dislocation.

15.11 Education. ‘I come as a parent not a politician’ (Oh, OK, then). Give the money to Heads not spend it in Whitehall. (At least something to analyse).

15.17 We will sweep rotten edifice [of Labour] away.

15.18 The Broken Parliament. We are just starting (after the expenses scandals). But even more this applies to the EC. William Haugue will lead our work (brief mention of a referendum).

15.22 Leadership. Will learn from poor leadership of TB and then GB.

15.25 Returns to theme. It will be a steep climb but the view will be worth it.

Ends to strong applause.

Instant Verdict

What impression did it leave on me. Effortless effort. Polished. Emotionally intelligent. Avoided sounded triumphant. Appealed to a wider outside audience who might not be concerned with its lack of specifics. At the end there was an almost indecently abrupt and calculated cutting-off of applause. Did he manage the different audiences? May have deliberately sacrificed in-hall rapture, in exchange for out-of-hall reactions. Just about got it right between tough love and toff love.

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4 Responses to Leadership analysis at the Conservative Conference

A solid pitch for the middle ground. I welcome Cam’s u-turn on Sure Start. Only a few months ago Philip Hammond indicated this could be cut. Interesting line on modern Tories fighting to abolish higher taxes for the poorest. No mention of minimum wage though. Will Cam let this wither away as is expected?

Skirted round the issue of Europe too. How ‘modern’ is Cam’s alliance with a rag bag of extremists? Made wise reference to ‘judgement’ on big issues but failed to acknowledge his poor judgement on the banking crisis last year. He’s by far the best person in his party at being able to stake a claim on the middle ground but I fear there are v powerful gravitational forces in the Conservatives that will pull him the other way. 7/10.

DC’s speech seemed to me strong in term of visions but light in term of policies. His transparency on some themes makes me think of Sarkozy’s leadership style when he started his campaign for the French presidential election 2006.